PSU Student Released From Hospital, Suspect Still At Large

STATE COLLEGE, CENTRE COUNTY - A manhunt is still underway in Centre County after a Penn State grad student had her throat slit while biking in State College Wednesday afternoon.

It happened around 2:30pm near Sunset Park off of Vairo Boulevard. The woman was attacked while riding her bike with a knife. She was taken to Mt. Nittany Medical Center and is expected to survive.
 
The victim was released from the hospital. Police say when her attacker cut her throat, he didn't hit an artery. She bit his hand and got away. They say she's traumatized, and we found so are many of her fellow students.

Penn State Freshman Evan Wagner knows the site of Wednesday's attack of a 40 year old grad student, and he's shocked.

"I was really surprised because there aren't too many violent crimes on campus, that I'm aware of."

Wagner's a runner. He runs on a lot of trails in State College, including the trail at Sunset Park. But after Wednesday's attack, he thinks he'll stay indoors a little more often.

"I don't want to go running now."

The grad student had her throat slit, got away from her attacker, and ran what police call "some distance" through Sunset Park. Ferguson Township Police say they were called after a jogger found her. They began a manhunt. Police Chief Diane Conrad says They searched through the air, and on the ground with dogs and more than 30 officers on foot, which isn't easy in this part of State College.

"A lot of the area is fields, brush, wooded area, so it's not easy to search..."

Wagner still can't believe it happened in State College.

"It's supposed to be Happy Valley. Not happy sections of the valley."

Police say they don't think the victim knew her attacker, and they don't know what the motive was. They're investigating it as a random attack. While the victim is the grad student, Wagner says she's not the only one who's affected by the attack.

"...it's really unfair to everyone cause now we all have to be looking over our shoulders and worried about going anywhere alone...I just hope they find the guy and hope he gets what he deserves."

Police say some people have spotted the suspect since the attack. They're still searching for the man.

He's described as a white man, 20-30 years old, with a slim to medium build. Police say he has facial hair. One report says his beard that comes down to a point. He's around 5'8", wearing black clothing, a gray jacket and a backpack. The suspect could be carrying a knife and
should be considered dangerous.

Ferguson Township Police are investigating this as a random attack, and they're asking anyone with information to give them a call,